Narrowing it Down

[LittleRed]

Ok in our last place we had such a tiny back yard, you could barely call it a lawn. The garden was only just big enough to fit an 8 foot trampoline in.

I kept it well though, and just used an old push mower. It was 30+ years old, used to be my grandfather's. It was great for making a stripy lawn!

I want the same effect, but in something easier to use. The garden is still small but a lot bigger than the last-too big now to use an old push mower. What are your favorites, especially that would give the same effect?

 

[Two-Stroke]

Ok in our last place we had such a tiny back yard, you could barely call it a lawn. The garden was only just big enough to fit an 8 foot trampoline in.

I kept it well though, and just used an old push mower. It was 30+ years old, used to be my grandfather's. It was great for making a stripy lawn!

I want the same effect, but in something easier to use. The garden is still small but a lot bigger than the last-too big now to use an old push mower. What are your favorites, especially that would give the same effect?

What is a "stripy lawn"? Do you want the lawn to have stripes -- like where the wheels mashed down the grass?

If it's a small area that's easy to reach with electric power, you could get a small, corded, electric mower. Battery-powered mowers are popular now but they're more expensive, heavier, and the battery will eventually need to be replaced (more expense).

 

[LandN]

Ok in our last place we had such a tiny back yard, you could barely call it a lawn. The garden was only just big enough to fit an 8 foot trampoline in.

I kept it well though, and just used an old push mower. It was 30+ years old, used to be my grandfather's. It was great for making a stripy lawn!

I want the same effect, but in something easier to use. The garden is still small but a lot bigger than the last-too big now to use an old push mower. What are your favorites, especially that would give the same effect?

i'm assuming your term 'push mower' is really a 'reel mower'..i have also cut many yards with a antique reel mower and yes they are hard to push. i have also used the new 'scotts' brand reel mower with the rear trailing wheels and it is much easier to push and more stable and still making nice stripes, i've also used the great states reel mower but was to narrow for me. i still have a homemade roller for the rear of my gas rotary mower made from pvc pipe filled with sand and 2 end caps and bracketed it to the rear of the mower...great stripes, i have also used different manual push lawn sweepers producing great stripes, which in my opinion works best because i can cut any which way, and then throw the lawn sweeper on it to dress it up with stripes. :thumbsup:

 

[Smartaleck]

I recognise both "push mower" and "reel mower" and I've also used one myself. They can't be beaten for small areas and they are so easy to maintain. I'd also recommend a small Flymo for a small area. (See the "Hover mower" thread.)

 

[BGC]

I recognized what both too. I never really thought much of striping my yard though. Guess just not something they did where I grew up. Does sound rather interesting though.

 

[Kryten]

I've seen it in professional settings, stately homes seem to like it a lot in Europe. But I've always just mown all over, never had the discipline to stick to the single directions.

 

[LittleRed]

It's a beautiful effect and it can be good for hiding imperfections in your lawn. So does that mean it is the roller that does the work? Is there a mower that can match this-I know that hover mowers don't do it, they give a uniform appearance.

 

[Smartaleck]

It's a beautiful effect and it can be good for hiding imperfections in your lawn. So does that mean it is the roller that does the work? Is there a mower that can match this-I know that hover mowers don't do it, they give a uniform appearance.

It's true, hover mowers don't press the grass down enough to make a stripe. I've seen stripes on golf courses mostly and large formal lawns and they do look very smart. My mower leaves stripes if I can be bothered going in straight lines!

 

[KennyV]

... is the roller that does the work? I

Rollers do the best job... but there are other ways that have been incorporated on mowers to do a similar job of training the grass to lay in a particular direction... Rollers are best... :smile:KennyV

 

[Pika]

I haven't tried to do stripes. I used a push mower (reel mower) when I was a teen and it was definitely good exercise! Now we use my father-in-law's riding mower and hand mower for our yard and most of the time we go in circles rather than across and back.